are perswaded will be very profitable not only to Our Clergy but to the Whole Church of this Our Kingdome and to all the true Members of it if they be well observed Have therefore for Us Our Heirs and Lawfull Successors of Our especial Grace certain Knowledge and meer Motion Given and by these presents do Give Our Royal assent according to the form of the said Statute or Act of Parliament aforesaid to all and every of the said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions and to all and every thing in them contained as they are before Written And furthermore We do not only by Our said Prerogative Royal and Supreme Authority in Causes Ecclesiastical Ratifie Confirm and Establish by these Our Letters Patents the said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions aforesaid but do likewise Propound Publish and straightly Enjoyn and Command by Our said Authority and by these Our Letters Patents the same to be diligently Observed Executed and Equally kept by all Our Loving Subjects of this Our Kingdome both within the Province of Canterbury and York in all points wherein they do or may concern every or any of them according to this Our Will and Pleasure hereby signified and expressed and that likewise for the better Observation of them Every Minister by what Name or Title soever he be called shall in the Parish-Church or Chapel where he hath Charge Read all the said Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions once every Year upon some Sundays or Holidays in the afternoon before Divine Service dividing the same in such Sort as that the one half may be Read one day and the other another day the Book of the said Canons to be provided at the Charge of the Parish betwixt this and the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord God next ensuing straightly Charging and Commanding all Arch-Bishops Bishops and all other that Exercise any Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction within this Realm every man in his place to see and procure so asmuch as in them lieth all and every of the same Canons Orders Ordinances and Constitutions to be in all points duely observed not sparing to execute the Penalties in them severally mentioned upon any that shall wittingly or wilfully Break or Neglect to observe the same as they Tender the Honour of God the Peace of the Church the Tranquillity of the Kingdome and their Duties and Service to Us their King and Soveraign In witness c. By the King A Proclamation Declaring that the Proceedings of his Majestie 's Ecclesiastical Courts and Ministers are according to the Laws of the Realm WHereas in some of the Libellous Books and Pamphlets lately published the most Reverend Fathers in God the Lord's Arch-Bishops and Bishops of this Realm are said to have Usurped upon his Majestie 's Prerogative Royal and to have Proceeded in the High Commission and other Ecclesiastical Courts contrary to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm it was Ordered by his Majestie 's High-Court of Star-Chamber the Twelfth day of June last that the Opinion of the two Lords Chief Justices the Lord Chief Baron and the rest of the Judges and Barons should be had and Certified in those particulars viz. Whether Processes may not issue out of the Ecclesiastical Courts in the Name of the Bishops Whether a Patent under the great Seal be necessary for the keeping of the Ecclesiastical Courts and enabling Citations Suspensions Excommunications and other Censures of the Church And whether Citations ought to be in the King's Name and under his Seal of Arms and the like for Institutions and Inductions to Benefices and Correction of Ecclesiastical offences Whether Bishops Arch-Deacons and other Ecclesiastical Persons may or ought to keep any Visitation at any time unless they have express Commission or Patent under the great Seal of England to do it and that as his Majestie 's Visitors only and in his Name and Right alone Whereupon his Majestie 's said Judges having taken the same into their serious Considerations did Unanimously concurr and agree in Opinion and the first day of July past Certified under their hands as followeth That Processes may issue out of the Ecclesiastical Courts in the Name of the Bishops and that a Patent under the Great Seal is not necessary for the keeping of the said Ecclesiastical Courts or for enabling of Citations Suspensions Excommunications and other Censures of the Church and that it is not necessary that Summons Citations or other Processes Ecclesiastical in the said Courts or Institutions or Inductions to Benefices or Correction of Ecclesiastical offences by Censure in those Courts be in the King's Name or with the Style of the King or under the King's Seal or that their Seals of Office have in them the King's Arms and that the Stature of Primo Edwardi Sexti cap. 2. which Enacted the contrary is not now in Force And that the Bishops Arch-Deacons and other Ecclesiastical Persons may keep their Visitations as usually they have done without Commission under the Great Seal of England so to do which Opinion and Resolutions being Declared under the Hands of all his Majestie 's said Judges and so Certified into his Court of Star-Chamber were there Recorded and it was by that Court further ordered the Fourth day of the said Moneth of July that the said Certificate should be Enrolled in all other his Majestie 's Courts at Westminster and in the High Commission and other Ecclesiastical Courts for the satisfaction of all men That the proceedings in the High Commission and other Ecclesiastical Courts are agreeable to the Laws and Statutes of the Realm And his Royal Majesty hath thought fit with advice of his Council that a Publick Declaration of these the Opinions and Resolutions of his Reverend and Learned Judges being agreeable to the Judgement and Resolutions of former times should be made Known to all His Subjects as well to Vindicate the Legal proceedings of His Ecclesiastical Courts and Ministers from the unjust and scandalous Imputation of Invading or Entrenching on His Royal Prerogative as to settle the Minds and stop the Mouths of all unquiet Spirits that for the future they presume not to Censure His Ecclesiastical Courts or Ministers in these their Just and Warrantable proceedings And hereof His Majesty admonisheth all His Subjects to take Warning as they shall answer the contrary at their Perils Given at the Court at Lyndhurst the eighteenth day of August in the thirteenth year of His Majesty's Reign 1637. God save the King Primo Julii 1637. The Judges Certificate concerning Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction May it please your Lordships ACcording to your Lordships Order made in His Majesty's Court of Star-chamber the Twelfth of May last we have taken consideration of the Particulars wherein our Opinione are required by the said Order and we have all agreed That Processes may issue out of the Ecclesiastical Courts in the Name of the Bishops and that a Patent under the Great Seal is not necessary for the keeping of the said Ecclesiastical Courts or
for the enabling of Citations Suspensions Excommunications or other Censures of the Church And that it is not necessary that Summons Citations or other Processes Ecclesiastical in the said Courts or Institutions or Inductions to Benefices or Correction of Ecclesiastical Offences by Censure in those Courts be in the King 's Name or with the Style of the King or under the King 's Seal or that their Seals of Office have in them the King 's Arms. And that the Statute of Primo Edwardi Sexti cap. 2. which Enacted the contrary is not now in force We are also of Opinion that the Bishops Arch-deacons and other Ecclesiastical Persons may keep their Visitations as usually they have done without Commission under the Great Seal of England so to do John Bramstone John Finch Humphrey Davenport William Jones John Dinham Richard Hutton George Croke Thomas Trevor George Vernor Robert Berkley Francis Crawley Richard Weston The Right Reverend Father in God George Lord Bishop of London His Advertisment To all and every the Ministers Church-wardens and Side-men within the City Suburbs and Diocess of London WHereas I am daily advertised by the relations of many honest and religious persons of a General Misbehaviour in most Churches in and about the City of London in time of Divine Service Men and Boys sitting then cover'd with their Hats on their heads without all shew of Reverence or Respect either of that Holy place or Action the one being the House of Almighty God the other a continued Vicissitude as it were of Speech between God and his People The due consideration whereof might easily induce any well-disposed Christian to use such Outward posture and gesture of his body as becometh that Sacred place and the great Majesty of that God to whom they come at that time Professedly to perform a Divine Worship I have therefore thought it my duty incessantly to recommend unto you the Ministers Church-wardens and Side-men the Reformation of this prophane abuse scandalous to our Religion against an express Law in that case provided and condemned by the contrary practice of all Christians in all Ages in their like Solemnities and Assemblies praying and requiring you to joyn together your utmost endeavours to effect the same for which purpose it shall be necessary for you the Church-wardens and Side-men during the time of Divine Service diligently to look about the Church and where you see any covered if Boys or of the younger sort those to shame openly by pulling off their Hats and chastize with such Discipline as you have been laudably accustomed to inflict upon such rude and unmannerly Fellows If the Elder or better sort though I well hope that none of that condition out of their own judgment will hereafter offend in this kind those to admonish gravely of their duty representing unto them the inconvenienâ—es of this their ill example and how directly repugnant it is to the Apostle 's Rule of Decency in the Church thus to celebrate Divine Service and to perform a Professed and Religious Worship of Almighty God After which your Admonition if any shall obstinately refuse to uncover his oâ— their heads in Service time you shall then present them to Me or my Chancellor to the end that they by the severity of Censures may be amended by whom brotherly and gentle perswasions have been contemned Moreover also I am certainly informed That the Publick Service of Almighty God in the Churches is omitted and thereby come to neglect and almost scorned forasmuch as the Ministers read not the Divine Service the First and Second Service before their Sermons according to the order of our Church Liturgy and the Canon in that case provided I do therefore hereby require all the Parsons Vicars and Curates in my Diocess to take care that they offend not in this kind strictly likewise requiring you the Church-wardens and Side-men that according to your Oathes you present to Me or my Chancellor those Ministers that shall be faulty in this kind c. City Petition 1646 1. That some strict and speedy course may be taken for the suppressing of all Private and Separate Congregations 2. That all Anabaptists Brownists Hereticks Schismaticks Blasphemers and all such Sectaries as conform not to the Publick Discipline established or to be established by Parliament may be fully declared against and some effectual course taken for proceeding against such persons 3. That as we are all Subjects of one Kingdom so all may equally be required to yield obedience unto the Government set forth or to be set forth by Parliament 4. That no Person disaffected to the Government set forth or to be set forth by Parliament may be employed in any place of Publick trust The most Reverend Father in God the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his Grace to all the Lords the Bishops within his Province of Canterbury AFter my hearty Commendations I have lately received Letters from His Majesty wherein He takes notice of the continuance and increase of some bold Abuses and Extravagances in the Church especially in Preachers notwithstanding His great Indulgence used towards them And fore-seeing the mischief and inconveniencies likely to ensue thereupon if not timely prevented and repressed Hath out of His Princely and tender care of the Peace of the Church sent withall certain Directions to be strictly observed by the Bishops in their several Diocesses as by the Copies thereof which I have sent here inclosed your Loâ—dship 's will more fully understand and for the more speedy dispatch and ease in the Communication hath been Graciously pleased to command so many Copies thereof to be Printed as shall be needful a proportionable number whereof will be forthwith sent unto your Lordship for your Diocess Now as we cannot but with all thankfulness acknowledge His Majesty's Affectionate Care and Zeal in this His providing for the good and Welfare of the Church by all means which He finds may be conducible thereunto So my earnest desire and hope is We shall not be so much wanting to our own good as not to second those His Majesty's Commands with the utmost of Our endeavours But that your Lordship when you shall have given order for the careful dispersing and communicating those Copies as is required will by your diligent inspection and serious Admonitions to your Clergy as occasion shall be offered be able in due time to return an account of the success in the Observation answerable to His Majesty 's expectation and Pious Designs in this His Injunction And so with my Prayers to God for a Blessing upon your Endeavours herein I commit you to His holy Protection and rest Your Lordships very Loving Friend and Brother W. Cant. Lambeth 23 Octob. 1662. The Right Reverend Father in God Gilbert Lord Bishop of London his Injunction GIlbert by the Divine Providence Bishop of London To our Well-beloved in Christ in the City and Our Diocess of London sendeth Greeting Whereas we are informed and sadly resent the great Profanation of
of Religion without any manifest known sin in the Manner of Worshipping of God or in the Matter and therefore our Government ought not to be Altered though Opposed by some that will not Conform because they are Commanded and yet confess Robinson Justific we ought and must obey the Ceremonies for the ends Commanded and as they tend to the Edification of our Selves and Others and that if they tend to the Edification of the Church and good Order they are Lawfull in the Commander Because the Officers of the Church as our Arch-bishops Bishops c. met together to Discuss and Consider of matters for the good of the Churches may be called a Church by the Judgment of the greatest Antagonist of the Church of England Robinson Because the Order of Bishops being of Divine Institution Ordination or Confirmation by the Apostles it follows that they are not of less Excellency than the Churches whose Servants they are but that the Churches are and ought to be in due proportion Inferior unto them The Man was not Created for the Woman but the Woman for the Man and as Ministers of the revealed Will of God they are infinitely above and Superior unto all saith our great Antagonist Robinson and for this Ambassage of God and Christ they are absolutely and simply to be Obeyed Because wearing the Surplice Cope Corner'd Cap Tippet Rotchet the use of the Ring in Marriage Signing with the Sign of the Cross in Baptism Kneeling Sitting or Standing in Divine Service are not Ceremonies in themselves but only when they are so Designed Appointed and Observed Dr. Burges A Bishop doth not wear the Judges Quoif the Counsellour a Surplice the Attourney a Ministers Garment a Lay man Parliament Robes an ordinary Citizen an Alderman's Badge it is one thing to wear a Garment to keep one Warm or for some other Service and another thing to wear it as a Distinctive cognizance of Authority of such and such a Degree Office Calling or Profession in which use it is a Ceremony otherwise not Dr. Burges a Ceremony external because internal actions of the mind being matters of substance cannot be duely called Ceremonies yet the institution or observation of an action or thing to express this or that to such an use as is Ceremonious makes it a Ceremony See Styleman's Peace-Offering Because meer Civility would teach though Religion were silent that men under Authority should obey and candidly forbear to intermeddle in matters of which they are not meet Judges though as Mint Annise and Cummin but Religion should teach them much more and put them in mind of the weighty things of the Law of Christ studying by all ways to gain some I became a Jew that I might gain the Jew saith that great Doctor of the Gentiles and was this by contradicting and gain-saying the Ceremonies of the Jewish Church Because God is a God of Order and Peace and hath ordained and commanded Peace and Unity between Ecclesiastical and Civil Power lest the Peace and Union both of Churches and Kingdoms be equally in danger of being broken Now that there is in the Church of England purity of Doctrine Order and Unity with Peace the Brethren themselves confess who do write about 1602. That in regard of the common grounds of Religion and of the Ministery we are all one we are all of one Faith one Baptism one Body one Spirit have all one Father one Lord and be all of one Heart against all wickedness Superstition Idolatry Heresie and that we seek with one Christian desire the advancement of the pure Religion Worship and Honor of God We are all Ministers of the Word by one Order we administer Prayers and Sacraments by one Form we preach one Faith and substance of Doctrine And we praise God heartily that the true Faith by which we may be saved and the true Doctrine of the Sacraments and the pure Worship of God is truly taught and that by publick Authority and retained in the Book of Articles Because the propounding of the true Doctrine the decision of Controversies making of Canons Orders Constitutions c. expedient and necessary to edification of the Church are Acts of Religion most proper to the Church and to make Laws to establish them to bestow Civil Gifts and Privileges upon the Church to ordain Civil Punishments for Offences committed against Christian Religion to erect Courts for the Cognizance of such Causes and the execution of the Laws is the peculiar and proper work of Christian Kings who are the onely Judges of their People Lambard Nevertheless Christian Kings though they may well do all these things without the help of the Church yet have they not done it but have made use of the Church for the more ample discharge of that great trust reposed in them Ut levior sit illis labor Because the Church hath power in Civil actions that draw scandal with them Ecclesiastically to censure yea the Church is to censure them Ecclesiastically in her members though the Magistrate pardon or pass them by except the Parties delinquent repent of them for then they are to be forgiven And what Usurpation is here upon the Magistracy The greatest enemy of the Church hath confessed this for a truth Robinson Because our Ceremonies are not immediate means of Worship neither do they terminate themselves in God who is worshipped Because the Church doth not give signification and effecting supernatural events to human Ceremonies as the Papists do K. James And no Church ought further to separate it self from the Church of Rome either in Doctrine or Ceremonies than she hath departed from her self when she was in her flourishing and best estate and from Christ her Lord and Head Because Ceremonies are ordained for those ends for which Rites may be ordained and are agreeable to those Rules which God's Word prescribes to wit Decency Order and Edification For Order and Uniformities sake Not any one Duty in all the Scripture so oft and so earnestly recommended as Unity which cannot be effected without some joint care to walk Uniformly in the Publick Worship of God Because the appointment of Ceremonies to be used as Ceremonies and not at all as Worship to God in themselves are no where condemned in the Scripture though not commanded Because our Ceremonies are of an indifferent nature and no Religion doth lie in the opposing of them but scandal and offence doth arise thereby causing even the good the Opposers might do to be evil spoken of and to become unprofitable Because our Ceremonies are not against Faith or a good life few and easie which Custome hath allowed and the not conforming to the Custom of a Church or State doth give occasion to Censures and Opinions and thereby cause suspition where a man might pass unquestion'd Because the Church of England never cast away all Ceremonies nor utterly abolish'd them but cast away all that which was properly Popish and corrupt in
A CENTURY OF REASONS For Subscription and Obedience to the Laws and Government of the Church of England both ECCLESIASTICAL and CIVIL With Reasons against the COVENANT Justifi'd by Scripture Confirmed by the Laws of the Kingdom the Right and Power of Kings Ecclesiastical and Human Authorities with an Harmony of Confessions â—o which is annexed the Office and Charge belonging to the Overseers of the Poor c. Rex solo Deo minor caeteris omnibus major Tertul. Who can lay his hands upon the Lords Annointed and be guiltless 1 Sam. 26.9 W. Wasse School-master in Little Britain near unto Christ-church London Printed by W.W. for R.H. at the Bible in Heart in Little Britain 1663. To the most High and Mighty Monarch CHARLS the II. By the Grace of God of Great Britain France and Ireland King Defender of the True Catholick and Antient Faith c. Religious Renowned and most Gracious King THis Small Work that chiefly concerns Kings and perswadeth to Obedience unto them with all Humility and Submission I one of your meanest Subjects present unto your Sacred Majesty in whom Courtesie and Clemency with Authority are transcendently Eminent of whom O King of Peace I cannot but with the many ten-thousands of your Loyal and Royal hearted Subjects give in my Test that Your Sacred Majesty is not onely as David but as Solomon yea the Solomon of the world who having Reconciled Three Kingdoms to Your self at Home and most Nations of the World Abroad have also tied Peace to Your Sacred Person These Transcendent All-concluding and All-commanding Virtues fill Your Loyal and Royal Subjects hearts with confidence that our Eyes shall see in Your Peaceable days God's House finished and the Temples built again that have been destroyed And the rather have we this confidence sith that Your Royal Majesty hath broken down the Partition Wall of Rites and Ceremonies in the Church of England and in the Church of Scotland and now of Two made One And as it hath been usual to Unite Nations and common to call United Nations by one Name and in them to Establish but one Form of Government Ecclesiastical and Civil even so hath Your Sacred Majesty done whereby the Black Monarchy of the Prince of Darkness is now cast down for ever Most Serene and Powerful Prince the attractive Beauty of Your Government draws the very Hearts and Souls of Your Loyal and Royal hearted Subjects not onely to pay unto You what is due but also by a Practicable Example to go before others in Obedience for want of which many years past by and gone through unduely untempered Zeal multitudes of Your Subjects denied the Magistrates of their duty and Your Sacred Majesty the Head of all Government By means whereof for some small Differences a few Error-searching Singulars out-faceing and opposing Ever-famous Plurals uncharitably first set the House of God on fire and afterwards caused a General Conflagration throughout all Your Majesty's Dominions which without Art-exceeding Deploration cannot be remembred Therefore there is great reason why Your Sacred Majesty should beware of yielding hasty belief to the Robes of Sanctimony By their works you shall know them Most Dread Soveraign By this dimme Light of a small Candle I am come at Noon-day to give what Light I am able unto the dark corners where the Sun nor the Moon nor the Stars as yet appear notwithstanding the Eye-dazling lustre of them in the Firmament of our Church and State the Light of the least of them being able to guide the Wayless Traveller in the darkest night Great and Mighty King the Great God that hath made You thus Great and set You up the Oracle of Kings the Miracle of Ages and made You to Your Enemies as a Rock invincible against which they have and for ever shall dash themselves in pieces the same Great God give You the Conquest of all our Hearts and Wills that there may be an Harmony and Agreement of Soul and Spirit amongst all Your Subjects from Dan to Beersheba and that this entire Realm of Great Britain English Scottish and Welch now being framed into one happy Soveraignty it is the humble Prayer prostrate upon the knees of my heart that the Almighty Three in One would bring us to be perfectly One Your Majesty's Most Humble Loyal and Obedient Subject W. WASSE To the Right Reverend Father in God GILBERT By the Divine Providence Lord B p of LONDON Reverend Father in God THere is but one thing in the World hath moved me to this Publick Addressing my self unto Your Lordship and it is this The Misrepresentation of me and my Judgment concerning the Established Government of the Church of England by the False Government and the No-Government Faction and this onely occasioned from my Childish Non-conformity through their Instructions for which I humbly beg pardon for I did it ignorantly and since Years have taught me wisdom with the reasons which prove our Government Holy Just and Good as to the ends thereof being convinced as in duty bound and as an account of my Obedience which I owe I do in all Humility present unto your Lordship the Reasons of my Conformity Beseeching the. Merciful God and our Heavenly Father to increase his Graces more and more upon You to his Glory the Churches Freedom from Error and Heresie and Your Everlasting Comfort Your Lordship 's poor Beadsman to be commanded W. WASSE TO THE Right Honourable Sir John Robinson Knight and Baronet Lieutenant of his Majestie 's Tower of London and Lord Maior of the Honourable City of London AND To the Right Worshipfull Sir Richard Brown Knight and Baronet one of his Majestie 's Justices of the Peace and Major General of the same Right Honourable and Right Worshipfull IT is not the first nor second time I have Affected to make known the Uprightness of my Heart towards his Sacred Majestie 's Kingly Power the Ecclesiastical and Civil Government of the Church of England established in all his Majestie 's Dominions But never untill this time could I Effect it and I hope seasonably when the Grounds and Reasons are considered which with all Humility I offer in a particular manner unto Your Lordship and Worship and the rather unto you than to any other Citizens in as much as ye were so eminently Instrumental in the Restauration of his Sacred Majesty and since in His Preservation From whom I have received sufficient cause to give Publick testimony of my thankfull Heart which the whole Kingdome also hath and to whom I worthily Devote my Self who next under God and His Sacred Majesty have preserved me with the Loyal ten-thousands from Ruine and Destruction and unto whom the Power and Possession of my Person belongs and therefore none more meet than Your Lordship and Worship to whom I might after the retirement to my Books commit the Care of this small Compiled work which asserteth the Duty of Subjects unto Kingly Power Ecclesiastical and Civil Government especially the Duty
the Covenant from the nature of the thing doth include a Condition Now the King the Church of England the Church of Scotland nor the Parliaments of either Kingdom never gave any consent or Civil sanction to the Covenant but on the contrary have abolish'd all Laws made as illegall and unjust whereby we were bound to the keeping of it So that the Covenant doth not bind us nor our consciences to the observing of it otherwise no Laws could be altered by the Legislative Power The Unfeigned Assent and Consent of all Ministers I A.B. do here declare my unfeigned Assent and Consent to all and every thing contained and prescribed in and by the Book intituled The Book of Common-prayer and Administration of the Sacraments and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church according to the Use of the Church of England together with the Psalter or Psalms of David Pointed as they are to be sung or said in Churches and the form or manner of Making Ordaining or Consecrating of Bishops Priests and Deacons By the Parliament of England 1662. A Declaration or Acknowledgment to be Subscribed unto I A. B. do declare that it is not Lawful upon any pretence whatsoever to take Arms against the King and that I do abhorr that traiterous Position of taking Arms by His Authority against His Person or against those that are Commissionated by him and that I will conform to the Liturgy of the Church of England as it is now by Law established And I do declare that I do hold there lies no Obligation upon me or any other person from the Oath commonly called The Solemn League and Covenant to endeavour any change or alteration of Government either in Church or State And that the same was in it self an unlawful Oath and imposed upon the Subjects of this Realm against the known Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom By the Parliament of Scotland 1662. A Declaration to be subscribed unto I A. B. do declare that it is unlawful for any to take up Arms against His Majesty or to enter in Leagues and Covenants without His Majesty And that all the late Acts of Committees and the two late Oathes called the Solemn League and Covenant and National Covenant are unlawful and no ways binding on any By the Parliament of Scotland Edinburgh Septemb. 5. 1662. A Declaration I Declare that I do judge it unlawful for Subjects upon pretence of Reformation or other pretence whatsoever to enter into Leagues and Covenants or to take up Arms against the King or those Commissionated by Him And that all these Gatherings Convocations Petitions Protestations and erecting and keeping Council-Tables that were used in the beginning and for carrying on of the late Troubles were Unlawful and Seditious And particularly that these Oaths whereof the one was commonly called The National Covenant as it was sworn and explained in the year one thousand six hundred and thirty eight and thereafter and the other entituled A Solemn League and Covenant were and are in themselves Unlawful Oathes and were taken by and imposed upon the Subjects of this Kingdom against the Fundamental Laws and Liberties of the same And that there lieth no Obligation upon me or any of the Subjects from the said Oathes or either of them to endeavour any change or alteration of the Government either in Church or State as it is now established by the Laws of the Kingdom 4. Incendiaries Malignants Because there are such expressions in the Covenant as are not to be found in any Oath that hath been taken in the Kingdom and for that the Laws of the Land are left out and not so much as once named 5. All Scripture-Covenanting from the Alpha unto the Omega thereof were commanded or chiefly acted by the Kings or the Chief Rulers and not one of the Covenants by the Elders of the People against or without the consent of the King 6. The Covenant is against Custome Usage Judicial Records and Acts of Parliament the King's Declarations and Proclamation and against all the Customs and Usages of all Nations in the world themselves being Judges and therefore ought not so much as to have been intended much less sworn unto Mr. Nye Such an Oath as for Matter Persons and other Circumstances the like hath not been in any Age or Oath we read of in Sacred or Human Story Iid. We are entring now upon a work of the greatest moment and concernment that ever was undertaken by any of Us or any of our Fore-fathers before us or our neighbouring Nations about us Henderson The Reformed Churches the Low-Countries our Noble and Christian Progenitors entred not into such a Solemn League and Covenant whence have we this Covenant then The dangers and pressures of the Kingdom of Scotland growing to greater extremity such as were entrusted with the Publick affairs of the Kingdom were necessitated to call a Convention of the Estates for considering of the present affairs And Commissioners were sent from both Houses of Parliament not from the King to consider with the Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland without the King what then Their consultations did in the end bring forth this Covenant When the Reformed Churches shall hear of this so neither the King nor the Reformed Churches were consulted with in this matter How then Salt-marsh The Covenant is a Divine Engine the godly have found out This is the first time the Sun saw such a confederation and therefore there should be as much Art used in preserving the Spirits of people as there was Art used in raising them up to this Height Coleman This is a new thing and not done in our Land before Ask your Fathers consult with the Aged of your times whether ever such a thing were done in their days or in the days of their fathers before them 7. 1643. 1641. The Covenant is diametrically opposite to the Protestation taken not long before wherein we have sworn That to our Power and as far as Lawfully we may we will oppose and by all good ways and means endeavour to bring to condign punishment all such as shall either by Force Plots Conspiracies or otherwise do any thing contrary to the true Reformed Protestant Religion established or against His Majesty's Royal Person Honor or Estate c. which was taken in Lawful things besides the Oathes of Allegiance and Supremacy which were taken Lawfully and in Lawfull things long before and so made all contrary Oathes unlawful to be afterwards either taken or kept St. Jerom. Now lay your hands upon your hearts consider and take the counsel of St. Jerom unto Ruffinus Never blush man to change thy opinion of the Covenant for neither you or I or any person living are of so great Authority as to be asham'd to confess they have erred Pym. As it is a crime odious in the nature of it to endeavour the alteration of the Government of the State so it is odious
appellat quia Ceremoniarum ad eos Religionumque cura tutela pertinet The Spirit of God doth very often call Kings and Princes Priests because the cust dy and care of Ceremonies and of Religion belongs to them Bilson Kings and Princes before Christ subverted Idolls Reformed Religion in their Realms by their Princely Power and Zeal Stat. 25. Hen. 8. It was Enacted by Parliament That no Canons or Constitutions should be made by the Bishops c. and by them Promulgated without the King's Command Records of Convocation The Clergy were forced to give up their Power of Executing any old Canons of the Church without the King's consent had before Heylins History All former Constitutions Provincial and Synodal though hitherto in force by the Authority of the whole Western Church Stat. 25. Hen. 8. were Committed to the Arbitriment of the King and of sixteen Lay persons and sixteen of the Clergy appointed by the King to be Approved or Rejected by them according as they conceived them Consistent with or Repugnant to the King's Prerogative as Head of the Church or to the Laws of God c. Stat. 26. Hen. 8. Authority was allowed to the King to Repress and Correct all such Errors Heresies Abuses and Enormities whatsoever they were which by any manner of spiritual Jurisdiction might Lawfully be repressed c. any thing to the contrary notwithstanding Ibid. All manner of Jurisdiction Ecclesiastical was by Parliament acknowledged to belong to the King as Head of the Church So that no Bishop had any Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction but by under and from the King Stat. 37. Hen. 8. c. 17. Supreme Power of dispensing with any Ecclesiastical Constitutions is ascribed to the King and Parliament as recognized Supreme Head of the Church Stat. 25. Hen. 8. c. 21. and the Arch-bishop made the King 's Delegate so that in Case he should refuse two other Bishops might be named to Grant such Dispensations And after all the King and His Court of Chancery are made the last Judge what things in such Dispensations are repugnant to Scriptures and what not Stat. 37. Hen. 8. Though the King did not Personally himself Exercise the Power of the Keys yet this Right He claimed that no Clergy man being a Member of the English Church should Exercise it in His Dominions in any Cause or over any Person without the Leave and Appointment of Him the Supreme Head Nor any refuse to Exercise it whensoever He should require Stat. 32. It was Enacted that whosoever should teach contrary to the Determinations which were set forth by the King Hen. 8. c. 26. should be Deemed and Treated as a Heretick Stat. 2.5.6 E. 6. An Act is made in which the King and Parliament Authorize Bishops c. by Vertue of their Act to take Informations concerning the not using the Form of Common-prayer then prescribed and to Punish the same by Excommunication c. Confirmed by 1 Eliz. cap. 1. 5 Eliz. cap. 1. 23 Eliz. cap. 1. Because in doubtfull matters the resolution of the Major part must be obeyed Now it hath been resolved by many Kings and Princes that our Government is not repugnant to the Word of God from whose Judgment there is no appeal but only to God by Prayer Because Schism did grow out of and arise from Presbyterian Government in the purest time which caused the Churches then to out it and to establish Episcopacy as the best Antidote against Schism and for the Restauration and Maintenance of the Churches Peace which was by Succession from the Apostles if not of Divine Institution The Apostles of Christ ordained Bishops in the Church Bullinger 5. Ser. Now it seems a desperate course to use Presbyterian Government as a soveraign Antidote in our time Lloyds prim Epis which had the effect of Poison upon the Churches in the Apostles time Because Contention is a deadly Enemy to Charity and Holy-living Now the refusing of Subscription and Obedience to Church-Government must needs kindle Contentions and why will you thus Contend seeing that the Government by Bishops is the Government of Christ and what better Government can we expect from Man A Government most of the Godly have Conformed to Baxter Most of the Godly able Ministers of England since the Reformation have Judged Episcopacy Lawfull or most Fit and most of them did Subscribe and Conform to Episcopal Government as a thing not contrary to the Word of God but as instituted by the Apostles to which all or the most of the Ancient Fathers do agree so that it is very Evident that it is very Consistent with a Godly Life to Judge Episcopacy lawfull and fit or else so many hundred of Learned and Godly men would not have been of that mind Because they ought to be under the Obedience of all Laws Ecclesiastical and Civil which that Prince commands under whom they Live Division in Government makes Division in a Kingdome and a Kingdome divided cannot stand Omne regnum in se divisum desolabitur Because the Grandest opposers of the Government of the Church of England have ever been of Unconstant principles though Violently zealous in opposing Indifferent things Which if simply Unlawfull they were sin why then do they not contend against them as sinfull but as formerly they did so now they can dispense with them under their own Cure in the Person of another and Subscribe themselves if they might be Dispensed with as to a Compliance in their own Persons which by the Act they are Enjoyned Nor do we find any great Opposition in the time of the Reign of our Immortal Queen Elizabeth untill Her Majesty Commanded Her Bishops and Her Bishops by Her Authority Commanded due Obedience to the Government of the Church which doth manifest it was not nor is not Conscience that doth raise this Opposition against them as if Unlawfull but as not Convenient for them that have been and still are Braindistempered opposers of them Because no Persons for the reason of inconveniency ought to reject what Publick Authority hath allowed Sith that it is apparent that the Composers of our Divine Service-book made choice of the best things out of the most Ancient Liturgies of the Churches which Flourished long before the Birth of Antichrist Because it hath not been manifested unto the Church of England by any Irrefragable positions that the Government of the Church is Unlawfull or the Ceremonies thereof Impure for which impurity the Church should lay aside the Practice of them being Warranted by the Word of God or not Dissonant from it And that they are Unlawfull hath not nor cannot be Proved though Disallowed by some whose Approbation makes nor the Government of the Church of England ever a whit the more Lawfull though Consented unto by them Because we have the Truths of Doctrine Christian Ordinances and a Holy People of the Church of England exercising themselves in the Holy Duties
Youth Especially amongst the Poorer sort 11. The want of Imployment 12. The Excessive number of Private and Publique Ale houses and Tap-houses Malus culturafit bonus An Evil person by due ordering is made good Statutes 25 R. 2. c. 6.14 Eliz. c. 5.23 E. 3. c. ult 34 E. 3. c. 1.7 R. 2. c. 5.12 R. 2. c. 7 8.11 H. 7. c. 2.19 H. 7. c. 12.22 H. 8. c. 12.27 H. 8. c. 25.3 E. 6. c. 6. 5 E. 6. c. 2.7 E. 6. c. 11. An. 1. M. c. 12 13.2 3 Ph. M. c. 5.5 Eliz. c. 5.29 Eliz. 39 Eliz. 43 Eliz. 3.1 K. I. E. 6. Injunction 24. Eliz. Injunction 11.14 K. C 2. A CATALOGUE Of all the Arch-bishops and Bishops in England and Wales as they were first Established by his Majesty K. CHARLS the II. Canterbury DR VVilliam Juxon Lord Archbishop Primate and Metropolitan of all England 1633. York Doctor Accepted Frewen Lord Arch-Bishop and Metropolitan of England 1634. London Dr. Gilbert Shelden Lord Bishop 1660. Durham Dr. John Cossens Lord Bishop 1660. Winchest Dr. Brian Duppa Lord Bishop 1638. Prelate of the Garter Bath and Wells Dr. William Piers Lord Bishop 1632. Oxford Dr. Robert Skinner Lord Bishop 1636. Bangor Dr. VVilliam Roberts Lord Bishop 1637. Rochester Dr. John VVarner Lord Bishop 1637. Ely Dr. Matthew VVren Lord Bishop 1638. Chichester Dr. Henry King Lord Bishop 1641. Salisbury Dr. Humphrey Henchman Lord Bishop 1660. Worcester Dr. George Morley Lord Bishop 1660. Lincoln Dr. Robert Sanderson Lord Bishop 1660. St. Asaph Dr. George Grissith Lord Bishop 1660. St. Davids Dr. VVilliam Lucey Lord Bishop 1660. Peterborough Dr. Benjamin Laney Lord Bishop 1660. Landaff Dr. Hugh Lloyd Lord Bishop 1660. Carlisle Dr. Richard Stern Lord Bishop 1660. Chester Dr. Brian VValton Lord Bishop 1660. Exeter Dr. John Gauden Lord Bishop 1660 Bristol Dr. Gilbert Ironside Lord Bishop 1660. Norwich Dr. Edward Reynolds Lord Bishop 1660. Gloucester Dr. VVillam Nicholson Lord Bishop 1660. Hereford Dr. Nicholas Monck Lord Bishop 1660. Coventry and Lichfield Dr. John Hacket Lord Bishop The first five take place by Act of Parliament the rest according to their Consecration Counties under their Several Jurisdictions with the Parishes in each Diocesse Canterbury CAnterbury 257 Rochester 098 have all Kent York Yorkshire Nottinghamshire 581. London Essex Middlesex Hartfordshire part 623. Durham Durham Northumberland Man Isle 135. Winchester Hantshire Surrey Wight Isle Guernsey Isle Jersey Isle 362. Bath and Wells Sommersetshire 388. Oxford Oxfordshire 195. Bangor Carnarvonshire Anglesey Isle Merioneth Denbishire part 107. Rochest Kent part 98. Ely Cambridgeshire Ely Isle 141. Chiche Sussex Hartfordshire part 557. Salisbury Wiltshire Barkshire 248. Worcester Worcestershire Warwickshire part 241. Lincoln Lincolnshire Leicestershire Huntingdonshire Bedfordshire Buckinghamshire Hartfordshire part 1255. St. Asaph Denbyshire part Flintshire part 121. St. Davids Pembrokshire Carmarthenshire 308. Peterborough Northamptonshire Rutlandshire 293. Landaff Glamorganshire Monmouthshire Brecknockshire Radnorshire part 177. Carlisle Cumberland part VVestmerland 93. Chester Cheshire Richmondshire Flintshire part Cumberland part Lancashire 256. Exeter Devonshire Exeter City Cornwal 623. Bristol Bristol City Dorsetshire 236. Norwich Norfolk Suffolk 1121. Glocest Gloucestershire 267. Hereford Herefordshire Shropshire part VVorcestershire part Radnorshire part 213. Coventry and Lichfield VVarwickshire part Staffordshire Derbyshire Shropshire 241. York Durham Carlisle Chester are Diocesles in the Province of York all the rest are in the Province of Canterbury MORAL SENTENCES MOnarchia perfectissima gubernatio A Monarchy is a most perfect Government Basilica reverenter visitanda A Cathedral Church is Reverently to be frequented Vulgi genius perplexus The nature of the Common people is uncertain Seditiosi Rei-publicae ruina Seditious persons are the ruine of a Common-weal Ingenuis acerba penuria Penury is bitter to Ingenuous men Ad inferospoenas parricidii luent They shall suffer Punishment for their Murther in Hell Deteriores omnes sumus licentia We be all the worse by having too much liberty Turba gravis paci A rabble rout grievous to peace Quid opus est armis habentibus Regem What need we fall to Civil warrs seeing we have a King already Sat is peccavit qui resistere non potuit He hath offended sufficiently who cannot oppose Stultus fui qui multos fecerim inimicos Stultior qui falsis amicis confisus fuerim I was a Fool that made so many to be my Enemies but more Foolish that trusted false Friends Ei qui semel fidem solvit iterum habere fidem vix est tutum It is not safe to give credit to him the second time who hath once Violated his faith Odio digna est simulatio simulatione capienda Dissembling is worthy of hatred and to be catched with Dissembling De quo bene Merearis vide Beware of whom you deserve well Cave fidem habeas verbis Take heed how you trust words Invidia vero dementius est nihil Nothing more mad than Envy Falsis testimoniis opprimi quamplurimos tum nemo nescit Very many men are undone by false witnesses as every one knoweth Intellige per vulpem pauperculos quos calumniis premere contumeliisque afficere divitibus aequè studium est By the Fox understand poor men whom wealthy ones study to oppress with Calumnies and Reproaches Malus si libitum fuerit quo jure quaque injuria praecipitem dabit A wicked man right or wrong will undoe thee Impotenti sincero perpetuò est cum malis parata certatio There is a perpetual Enmity betwixt powerless honest and wicked men Non sunt amici omnes qui blande dicunt They are not all Friends who speak flatteringly Verum amicum res adversae pericula designant Adversity and danger Evidence a true friend Qui plura quà m decet quaerit interdum acquirit nihil He that hunts after more than is sitting sometimes gets nothing Potens si libet nocere facile capit nocendi causam A mighty man if he lists to hurt easily takes occasion Unumquemque suo decet esse contentum It becometh every man to be content with his own Unicum summum praesidium complurium amicitia est The only and chief strength is the friendship of many Noli omnibus fidem habere Multi enim dum aliis videntur velle prodesse sibi interim consulunt Trust not all men for many while they seem willingly to do others a pleasure in the mean time provide for themselves Quibuslibet enim rebus potior est libertas Liberty is better than any thing whatsoever FINIS Words explained used in this Book Indifferent Not forbiden nor Commanded that may or may not be done but as Authority shall Judge most meet Properly bind the Conscience By a Divine ordination Simply necessary Of Divine ordination Immediate worship An Act of obedience to the first Table for the honouring of God Properly so called Any action done to the honouring of God immediately in such things as God hath to that end ordained Improperly or Respectively Ceremonies ordained of men to attend upon any service or an Act done to the honouring of God by the orderly and comely usage of his own ordinance Ambulatory Rites Ceremonies that have not Divine Institution Properly Sacred Of Divine Institution Symbols Tokens Institution Ordination Appointment disposing Administration Subaltern Placed under another Venerable Honourable Convocation An Assembling together of Arch-bishops Bishops c. Books written by the Author ADvice or Considerations for Parents and Masters Masters and Scholars Scholars Parents and Masters Printed for the Author and to be sold by R. H. at the Bible in Heart in Little Britain The young Maidens Guide directing the Newest Exactest and easiest way to Learn to Spell with a Catechism Lessons Divine and Moral Graces Prayers The Praise of Women and Virgins Directions for their Carriage with other Delightfull matter crept abroad full of Errours and wanting many pages to the great wrong of the buyer and greater injury to the Author the perfect Copy being now ready and intended for the Press